By Hou Akot Hou
Authorities in Tonj South County, Warrap State, are holding a driver accused of killing a Sudanese passenger who was traveling with him to Juba. The man was crushed after sleeping under the transit goods vehicle during a stop.
Tonj South Police Patrol Unit in charge, William Wol Bol, told a local radio that the incident occurred at a checkpoint where the driver had been stopped for inspection. While waiting, the passenger, feeling cold, lay down beneath the vehicle.
When clearance was granted, the driver started the engine and moved forward, running over the passenger.
Bol said the incident unfolded on Tuesday at dawn around 3:00 a.m. The victim, identified as Dunia Ngor Deng, died instantly after being crushed as the vehicle moved.
“What happened is that the driver, Michael John, was transporting cows to Juba. The Sudanese man was traveling with him,” Wol explained.
He said the two were stopped for clearance at a checkpoint, during which the passenger, feeling cold, lay down under the vehicle. When the driver was cleared to proceed, he started the engine and moved forward, crushing the man.
“They were stopped for clearance at the checkpoint, and unknowingly the passenger began to sleep under the vehicle. When the driver was cleared, he started the engine and unfortunately killed the passenger named Dunia Ngor Deng,” Wol stated.
Police confirmed that the driver has been detained in custody following the fatal accident.
Traffic officers have urged stricter adherence to driving rules to prevent similar tragedies. Analysts have linked such incidents to poor driver training, noting that many drivers fail to ensure safety checks before moving vehicles.
Police officials said the deceased has already been buried, while authorities await the arrival of relatives to follow up on legal procedures.